Floating manure agitator

ABSTRACT

A floating manure agitator that floats on the surface of a manure lagoon and that may be remotely controlled to agitate manure supernatant into a slurry with sludge settling on the bottom of the lagoon. The agitator is provided with a plurality of fluid outputs, the direction of which may be controlled to motivate and steer the agitator. The outputs are angled to develop vortices of supernatant into the sludge to further mix the materials into a slurry.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to a manure agitator and, moreparticularly, to a floating manure agitator for use in association witha manure lagoon.

BACKGROUND

Livestock produce a large amount of manure. The high nitrogen content ofthe manure makes it useful as a fertilizer on agricultural fields. Whilemanure is continually produced, it is only needed as fertilizer duringcertain times of the year. During the times it is being produced and notyet needed, it must be stored. It is also desirable to break down themanure prior to application as a fertilizer. One method of storing andbreaking down livestock manure is a manure lagoon. Manure lagoons aresloped, fluid impermeable pits fifteen to thirty-five feet deep and maybe several hundred feet across.

Manure from a livestock operation is pumped into a lagoon whereanaerobic bacteria digest, liquefy, and convert a portion of the manureto carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The resultingsupernatant contains nitrogen and calcium. The resulting solids form asludge that rests on the bottom of the manure lagoon. The sludge is madeup of several biodegradable organic solids, including lignin andcellulose. The sludge also contains high concentrations of phosphorous.After anaerobic bacteria breaks down the manure, the manure is pumpedfrom the lagoon to a tank for transport and then applied to anagricultural field.

To prevent an undesirable buildup of sludge at the bottom of the lagoon,it is known in the art to place an agitator within the lagoon to createa slurry by moving solids in sludge into suspension within thesupernatant. Prior art methods of agitating the manure include attachinga shaft with a propeller or auger to the power takeoff of a tractor orother farm vehicle resting on the shore. The rotating propeller or augerforces the supernatant down into the sludge, causing the solids withinthe sludge to move upward into suspension within the supernatant. Whilethis method does place some solids into suspension, the method hasseveral drawbacks. One drawback is that the propeller or auger forcessludge up from the bottom of the lagoon in only a narrow area. While thepropeller or auger may be moved to provide a more even distribution ofsolids within the supernatant, moving the propeller or auger is timeconsuming.

Alternatively, the propeller or auger may be rotated at an increasedspeed to move more sludge to move into suspension. One drawbackassociated with increasing the speed of rotation of the propeller orauger is the increased risk to the bottom of the lagoon. If the speed ofthe rotation of the propeller or auger is increased too much, the bottomof the lagoon may be damaged, allowing the manure to leak into theground water. Yet another drawback associated with the prior art ismixing sludge at the center of the lagoon. Prior art agitators aretypically operated from shore. Even with long agitators it is difficultto mix sludge at the center of the lagoon, which leads to a buildup ofsludge at the center of the lagoon. It would, therefore, be desirable toprovide deep agitation at the center of the lagoon, to more thoroughlysuspend the sludge solids within the supernatant.

It is also known in the art to provide a large vehicle that may belowered into the lagoon. The vehicle may be equipped with a fluidintake, a pump and a fluid output to draw supernatant into the pump andforce the supernatant at high speed downward toward the sludge. Thevehicle is typically moved with cables by operators on the shore.

One drawback associated with such devices is that these devices are noteasily maneuverable. Another drawback associated with such prior artdevices is the difficulty associated with controlling such devices.Often elaborate systems of wires and securement posts must be erectednear the shores of the manure lagoon to provide a guide for the vehicleto move during the agitation process. As the vehicle typically makesseveral passes across the lagoon, several guide wires and posts must beset up to accommodate multiple passes. The devices can be difficult tosteer during passes across the lagoon.

It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a vehicle which floats onthe manure pond and which is maneuverable. It would also be desirable toprovide the vehicle with multiple outlet nozzles to direct the fluiddownward into the lagoon a sufficient distance to agitate the solids inthe bottom of the lagoon into suspension and create vortices within thelagoon to assist in carrying solids within the sludge into suspension inthe supernatant. It would additionally be desirable to direct thenozzles to create vortices that mix the solids of the sludge intosuspension with the supernatant, while minimizing the amount ofunpleasant smelling hydrogen sulfide rising to the surface and escapinginto the air.

It would further be desirable to provide a floating vehicle for themixing of sludge solids into suspension with the supernatant that may bequickly and readily transported to a manure lagoon, launched into thelagoon, used to suspend sludge solids into suspension with thesupernatant, and removed from the lagoon onto a trailer. It would alsobe desirable to provide a floating vehicle configured to the standard,height, weight and width restrictions associated with highway travel.Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a floating manureagitation vehicle that may be remotely controlled and guided to specificportions of the lagoon to move solids of the sludge into suspension withthe supernatant as desired.

The difficulties encountered in the prior art discussed hereinabove aresubstantially eliminated by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a floating manureagitator is provided with a floating vessel and a power source. A slurrypump is coupled to the power source. A slurry intake and three slurryoutputs are also coupled to the slurry pump. Two of the slurry outputsare directed outward from the floating vessel. The slurry intake isprovided between the two rearward slurry outputs. An additional slurryoutput is provided closer to the bow of the floating vessel and isprovided with a steering control to direct the slurry output to controlthe direction of the floating vessel. The two aft slurry outputs may berotated more rearward to increase the speed of the floating vessel orrotated more stern to slow or reverse the speed of the floating vessel,or move downward to direct more of the supernatant into the sludge. Aremote control device may be coupled to the slurry control to allow thefloating vehicle to be steered from the shore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of the floating manureagitator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the floating manureagitator of FIG. 1, being retrieved from a manure lagoon;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the modular dock sectionsand connector pin;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation of the floating manure agitator ofFIG. 1 on a manure lagoon;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of the floating manureagitator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of the floating manureagitator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram in partial cutaway of the controlpanel and portable computer;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side perspective view of the floating manureagitator of FIG. 1 being transported; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a side perspective view of the floating manureagitator of FIG. 1 being retrieved from a manure lagoon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A floating fluid agitator is shown generally as (10) in FIG. 1. A vessel(12) is provided having a frame (14) preferably constructed of weldedtubular steel pipes (16). The vessel (12) may alternatively beconstructed of any suitable material or may be constructed with a morestandard hull, such as those known in the art. The frame (14) isconstructed with an angled bow (18) and a vertical stern (20). Theangled bow (18) facilitates the launch and retrieval of the agitator(10) from a manure lagoon (22). (FIGS. 1-2). The frame (14) defines aplurality of receiver slots (24) into which are provided modular docksections (26), such as those known in the art. In the preferredembodiment, the dock sections (26) are 1000 series dock componentsmanufactured by Connect-A-Dock, Inc. of Atlantic, Iowa.

The modular dock sections (26) are provided with connector slots (28) tofit into interlocking mating engagement with connector pins (30). Theconnector pins (30) allow the modular dock sections (26) to connect toadditional dock sections (32) in a manner such as that known in the art.(FIGS. 1 and 3). The use of interlocking additional dock sections (32)allows for the buoyancy of the vessel (12) to be increased and allowsthe additional dock sections (32) to be removed to reduce the overallwidth of the agitator (10) for transport and storage. If desired,pontoons, inflatable components or any other type of buoyant materialmay be used in place of, or in addition to, the modular dock sections(26) and additional dock sections (32). Preferably, the vessel (12) hasten to fifty inches of draw, more preferably between fifteen and thirtyinches of draw, and most preferably about twenty-six inches of draw.

The vessel (12) is provided with a deck (34) and a power source (36).(FIGS. 1-2). The deck (34) has a front (166), a rear (168), a first side(170), and a second side (172) wherein the first side (170) is oppositethe second side (172). While the power source (36) may be any suitablepower source, in the preferred embodiment the power source (36) is aJohn Deere Tier 3 diesel engine. Depending on the desired size andefficiency of the agitator (10), the power source (36) is preferablybetween twenty and two-thousand horsepower, more preferably betweenfifty and five hundred horsepower, and most preferably between onehundred fifty and two hundred fifty horsepower.

Coupled to the power source (36) is a liquid manure pump such as aslurry pump (38). In the preferred embodiment, the slurry pump (38) is aCornell Redi-Prime centrifugal pump capable of handling both solid andliquid material. The slurry pump (38) is preferably designed to movebetween one thousand and twenty-four thousand liters of material perminute, more preferably between eight thousand and twenty thousandliters of material per minute, and most preferably about sixteenthousand liters of material per minute.

The slurry pump (38) is coupled to a liquid manure intake, such as aslurry intake, which is a downwardly directed intake pipe (40) in thepreferred embodiment and is capable of handling manure crust,supernatant, sludge and the combined slurry. (FIGS. 1 and 4). Ifdesired, the intake pipe (40) may be extensible to adjust the depth ofthe intake pipe (40). The intake pipe (40) is constructed to extendabout twenty-four inches below the surface of the lagoon (22), but maybe extended or retracted to any desired depth, including the entiredepth of the lagoon (22).

Coupled to the slurry pump (38) by a transport pipe (42) is a firstslurry output (44). (FIG. 5). The first slurry output (44) is an angledpipe (46) pivotably coupled to the transport pipe (42). Releasablycoupled to the angled pipe (46) is a tapered liquid manure nozzle (48)that extends downwardly through an opening in the deck to increase thevelocity of slurry (50) passing through the nozzle (48). (FIGS. 4-5). Ifdesired, different sizes and configurations of nozzles (48) may becoupled to the angled pipe (46) to adjust the direction and velocity ofslurry (50) exiting through the first slurry output (44). Coupledbetween the angled pipe (46) and the frame (14) is a steering controlhydraulic cylinder (52). The hydraulic cylinder (52) is coupled to ahydraulic pump (54) that, in turn, is coupled to a 12-volt battery (56).(FIGS. 1 and 5).

As shown in FIG. 6, journaled to the rear outlet of the transport pipe(42) is a pivot pipe (58). The pivot pipe (58) is also journaled to abearing (60) secured to the frame (14). (FIG. 6). Depending from thepivot pipe (58) are a second slurry output (62) and a third slurryoutput (64). Preferably the slurry outputs (62) and (64) are angledoutward from the centerline of the vessel (12), along which the intakepipe (40) is located. (FIGS. 4 and 6).

Releasably coupled to the second slurry output (62) and third slurryoutput (64) are a pair of nozzles (66) and (68) pivotably coupled to thevessel (12). The second slurry output (62) and third slurry output (64)are oriented and configured to direct the slurry (50) as desired and toincrease the velocity with which the slurry (50) exits the nozzles (66)and (68). The second slurry output (62) is preferably directed betweenfive and eighty degrees toward the first side (170) of the deck (34),more preferably directed between ten and sixty degrees toward the firstside (170) of the deck (34) and, most preferably, between fifteen andforty-five degrees toward the first side (170) of the deck (34). Thethird slurry output (64) is preferably directed between five and eightydegrees toward the second side (172) of the deck (34), more preferablybetween ten and sixty degrees toward the second side (172) of the deck(34) and, most preferably, between fifteen and forty-five degrees towardthe second side (172) of the deck (34). The intake pipe (40) ispreferably positioned between the first slurry output (44) and thesecond slurry output (62).

Coupled between the pivot pipe (58) and the frame (14) is a hydrauliccylinder (70) that rotates the pivot pipe (58) to direct the secondslurry output (62) and third slurry output (64) preferably between 90degrees rearward and 90 degrees forward from a downward position, morepreferably between 60 degrees rearward and 60 degrees forward, and mostpreferably at least about 45 degrees rearward and 45 degrees forward.

The hydraulic cylinder (70) is coupled to the hydraulic pump (54). Thehydraulic pump (54) is coupled to a control manifold (72) that iselectronically coupled to a control panel (74) provided with a centralprocessing unit (76) and a global positioning system (78). (FIGS. 1 and7). Also coupled to the control panel (74) are a wireless receiver (80)and wireless transmitter (82), that allow the control panel (74) tooperate as a wireless remote control, actuated by a remote controlsystem (84). (FIGS. 1 and 5). The remote control system (84) may be aportable computer (not shown) or simply a handset (86) provided with abattery (88), wireless transmitter (90) and a wireless receiver (92).The remote control system (84) may be provided with one or morejoysticks, touchscreens, keyboards or other input devices known in theart (not shown), to allow the remote control system (84) to acceptcommands. In the preferred embodiment, the remote control system (84) isprovided with a plurality of buttons (94) as shown in FIG. 7. The remotecontrol system (84) is provided with a pump prime button (96). The primepump button (96) signals the control panel (74) to circulate fluidwithin the slurry pump (38) to prime the pump (38) prior to use.

The remote control system (64) also includes an engine stop button (98),start button (100), a throttle down button (102) and throttle up button(104). To steer the agitator (10) the remote control system (84) isprovided with a bow left button (106) and bow right button (108). Thebow left button (106) causes the steering control hydraulic cylinder(52) to extend, thereby directing the nozzle (48) to starboard anddriving the agitator (10) port. The remote control system (84) is alsoprovided with a bow right button (108) to retract the hydraulic cylinder(52) and steer the agitator (10) starboard. The remote control system(84) is provided with a reverse button (110) which causes the hydrauliccylinder (70) to extend, thereby forcing the pivot pipe (58) to directthe slurry outputs (62) and (64) toward the bow (18) of the agitator(10), thereby driving the vessel (12) rearward. Similarly, a forwardbutton (112) causes the hydraulic cylinder (70) to retract and drive theagitator (10) forward.

If desired, the remote control system (84) may be provided with a firstgate close button (114) that closes a valve (115) on the transport pipe(42) positioned between the fluid intake pipe (40) and forward nozzle(48). A gate open button (116) is also provided to open the valve (150).Similarly, a close gate button (118) and open gate button (120) areprovided to open and close a valve (152) provided between the fluidintake pipe (40) and the nozzles (66) and (68). The gate buttons (114),(116), (118) and (120) allow a user to selectively supply fluid throughone, two or three of the nozzles (48), (66) and (68) as is desired toappropriately agitate the fluid (128) within which the agitator (10) isfloating. The remote control system (84) is also provided with a button(122) to actuate lights (154) provided on the agitator (10) if it isdesired to use the agitator (10) in circumstances where additionallighting is desired. The remote control system (84) may be configured toreceive feedback from the control panel (74), such as system status,latitude, longitude and height coordinates.

When it is desired to use the agitator (10) to agitate manure (124),that has separated into crust (126), supernatant (128) and sludge (130),into a slurry (50), the agitator (10) is preferably transported to themanure lagoon (22) using a trailer (132) and pulling vehicle (134).(FIGS. 4 and 8). Once at the manure lagoon (22), the additional docksections (32) are placed into mating engagement with the modular docksections (26) and the trailer is backed toward the lagoon (22). (FIGS.1, 4, 8 and 9). Depending upon the angle of the trailer (132), theagitator (10) may roll off the trailer (132) by the force of gravity ormay be manually pushed from the trailer (132) into the lagoon (22). Ifdesired, the trailer (132) may be fitted with a plurality of rollers(136) to facilitate the removal of the agitator (10) from the trailer(132).

Once the agitator (10) is floating in the lagoon (22), the remotecontrol system (84) is used to activate the power source (36) to causethe slurry pump (38) to draw supernatant (128) into the intake pipe (40)and out the outputs (44), (62) and (64). The remote control system (84)is used to direct the pivot pipe (58) to angle the slurry outputs (62)and (64) rearward to drive the agitator (10) forward. The remote controlsystem (84) then actuates the control panel (74) to direct the hydrauliccylinder (52) to angle the first slurry output (44) to turn the agitator(10) port or starboard as desired. The remote control system (84) isthereafter used to direct the volume of supernatant (128) drawn into theintake pipe (40) and the direction at which the supernatant (128) isexpelled from the slurry outputs (44), (62) and (64). By manipulatingthe direction of the slurry outputs (44), (62) and (64) with the remotecontrol system (84), a user may direct the agitator (10) to any desiredportion of the lagoon.

As the agitator (10) moves across the lagoon (22), the agitator (10)breaks up the crust (126) as it draws supernatant (128) into the intakepipe (40). The agitator (10) then forces the supernatant (128) downwardinto the lagoon (22) with sufficient force to cause the sludge (130) atthe bottom (138) of the lagoon (22) to mix with the supernatant (128)and to form the slurry (50). The angle of the slurry outputs (62) and(64) causes the supernatant (128) to generate vortices (140) near thebottom (138) of the lagoon (22) to cause additional mixing between thesupernatant (128) and sludge (130).

The remote control system (84) may be used to cause the slurry pump (38)to expel slurry (50) more slowly from the slurry outputs (44), (62) and(64) as the agitator (10) is near the shore (142) of the lagoon (22) soas not to penetrate the lining (144) of the lagoon (22) thereby allowingthe slurry (50) to escape. As the agitator (10) moves towards the centerof the lagoon (22) which may range from five to forty feet deep, ormore, the remote control system (84) can be used to increase the speedat which the supernatant (128) is passed from the slurry outputs (44),(62) and (64) to adequately mix the sludge (130) at the deepest portionsof the lagoon (22). The remote control system (84) is used to direct theagitator (10) to all desired portions of the lagoon until the crust(126) and supernatant (128) is adequately mixed with the sludge (130).

Once the slurry (50) is adequately mixed, the remote control system (84)is used to guide the agitator (10) to the shore (142), where theagitator (10) may be coupled to a cable (146) and winch (148) providedon the trailer (132). The winch (148) is activated to draw the agitator(10) on to the trailer (132). Preferably during this procedure a hose orsimilar system is used to clean the slurry (50) from the agitator (10)as the agitator (10) is drawn on to the trailer (132). Once the agitator(10) has been cleaned and placed on the trailer (132), the additionaldock sections (32) are removed from the modular dock sections (26) andplaced upon the vessel (134) and secured for transport.

As shown in FIG. 6, the agitator (10) may be provided with a railingsystem (156) constructed of steel to allow a user to inspect theagitator (10). (FIG. 2). If desired, the agitator (10) may also beprovided with a power antenna system (158) such as those known in theart to increase GPS and wireless reception.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air intake system (160) is preferably placedabove the power source (36) to reduce the likelihood of slurry (50)blocking the air intake system (160). Similarly, the exhaust system(162) is located above the power source (36) to reduce the likelihood ofthe exhaust system (162) becoming blocked with slurry (50).

As shown, the fuel reservoir (164) is provided at least partially belowthe deck (34) of the vessel (12) to allow access to the fuel reservoir(164), while still providing the agitator (10) with a low center ofgravity to increase the stability of the agitator (10).

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since changes and modifications can be made therein which arewithin the full, intended scope of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A floating slurry agitator comprising: (a) afloating vessel having a horizontal deck, the deck having a front havingan opening therethrough, a rear, a first side, and a second side,wherein the first side is opposite the second side; (b) a power sourceprovided on the vessel; (c) a slurry pump coupled to the power source;(d) a slurry intake coupled to the slurry pump; (e) a front slurryoutput coupled to the slurry pump, wherein the front slurry output isdirected downward through said deck opening relative to the deck andwherein the front slurry output is pivotable in a plane generallyperpendicular to said deck from a first position directed at leastpartially toward the first side of the deck to a second positiondirected at least partially toward the second side of the deck; (f) arear slurry output coupled to the slurry pump (g) a pivot pipe pivotablecoupled to the frame, wherein the pivot pipe is in fluid communicationwith the rear slurry output, wherein the rear slurry output is directeddownward relative to the deck, and wherein the pivot pipe issufficiently pivotable to direct the rear slurry output at leastpartially rearward; and (h) a steering control coupled to the frontslurry output.
 2. The floating slurry agitator of claim 1, furthercomprising a wireless remote control coupled to the steering control. 3.The floating slurry agitator of claim 2, wherein the steering controlcomprises a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the vessel and the firstslurry output.
 4. The floating slurry agitator of claim 1, wherein therear shiny output is directed at least partially toward the first sideof the deck.
 5. The floating slurry agitator of claim 4, wherein theslurry intake is positioned between the first slurry output and thesecond slurry output.
 6. The floating slurry agitator of claim 5,further comprising a wireless remote control coupled to the steeringcontrol.
 7. The floating slurry agitator of claim 1, wherein the pumphas a throughput capacity of at least four thousand liters per minute.8. The floating slurry agitator of claim 1, wherein the pump has athroughput capacity of at least eight thousand liters per minute.
 9. Thefloating slurry agitator of claim 1, wherein the floating vessel isprovided on a manure lagoon.
 10. The floating slurry agitator of claim1, wherein the power source is a diesel engine.
 11. A floating slurryagitator comprising: (a) a floating vessel having a horizontal deck, thedeck having a front having an opening therethrough, a rear, a firstside, and a second side, wherein the first side is opposite the secondside; (b) a power source provided on the vessel; (c) a slurry pumpcoupled to the power source; (d) a slurry intake coupled to the slurrypump; (e) a front slurry output coupled to the slurry pump, wherein thefront slurry output is directed downward through said deck openingrelative to the deck and wherein the front slurry output is pivotable ina plane generally perpendicular to said deck from a first positiondirected at least partially toward the first side of the deck to asecond position directed at least partially toward the second side ofthe deck; (f) a first rear slurry output coupled to the slurry pump; (g)a second rear slurry output coupled to the slurry pump; (h) a pivot pipecoupled to the frame, wherein the pivot pipe is in fluid communicationwith the first rear slurry output and the second rear slurry output; (i)wherein the first rear slurry output is directed downward and toward thefirst side of the deck; (j) wherein the second rear slurry output isdirected downward and toward the second side of the deck; (k) whereinthe pivot pipe is sufficiently pivotable to direct the first rear slurryoutput and the second rear slurry output at least partially rearward;and (l) a steering control coupled to the front slurry output.